Kaitlyn asked Samuel DenHartog:

Why do you list yourself as the author when it is produced by generative AI?

Samuel DenHartog Before becoming an author, I worked as a programmer, and in that world, using AI as a tool has become the norm. It does not make someone less of a programmer. In many cases, it makes them better by letting them focus on logic, structure, and innovation instead of repetitive tasks. The same idea applies to writing. AI can help generate drafts or rough paragraphs, but the heart of the story, the voice, the pacing, and the emotional depth still come from me. Just like an artist using digital brushes or a filmmaker using CGI, I use AI as a tool. It supports the process, but it does not replace creativity. That is why I list myself as the author. Every book I publish is a result of my choices, my vision, and my effort.

If writing a book were as simple as pushing a button, everyone would be doing it. But storytelling is more than placing words on a page. It is about shaping emotion, building character, and guiding readers through an experience that feels real and meaningful. Anyone curious about what goes into writing should try building a full-length book from start to finish. AI can offer suggestions, but it is the author who gives the story a soul.

AI rarely gets anything right on the first try. I rewrite, revise, and adjust constantly. Some passages I replace entirely. Others I reshape until they capture exactly the tone and rhythm I need. Every book I publish goes through hundreds of changes. Some scenes are written by hand from scratch. Others are refined paragraph by paragraph until they match what I imagined. AI helps me work faster, but the decisions, the voice, and the story itself come from me.

Writing is also about knowledge. I research constantly. Whether I am studying ancient myths, reading about how cheese is made from sheep's milk, or learning the details of life on the Oregon Trail, I dive deep into each subject so the world feels real. The research matters. It shapes the world of the story and makes it richer. Every book I write is a way to learn something new and then share it through characters and setting.

For me, writing is not casual or part-time. I work on my books seven days a week, usually between eight and twelve hours a day. I revise endlessly. I chase the right words until they sound like music. It takes dedication, time, and full creative focus to bring a story to life. AI might be a tool in the process, but the passion, the vision, and the work are mine. That is what makes it a book with an author behind it, not just a pile of words.

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